Allegheny Graduate Awarded James “Chip” Hanlon Volunteer Mentor of the Year From The University of Pittsburgh

Brian Sullivan '92 is on a mission to help drive positive change in the world, whether it's working to mitigate biological threats in the mail or pursuing startup ventures to tackle problems.

Sullivan says that "Allegheny really helped me find my path in a way I wouldn't have expected. It laid the groundwork for everything I did."

In his junior year, emeritus professor of biology, Glen Wurst, encouraged Sullivan to apply for a neuroscience internship at Columbia Medical School. After completing his internship and investigative Senior Comprehensive project, Sullivan graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology and was eager to continue his research.

Sullivan earned his doctorate in neurobiology and neuroscience at the California Institute of Technology and served the government, addressing chemical or biological threats.

In 2001, he worked on biological sensors during a national attack when anthrax was being distributed through the United States Postal Service. He further applied his expertise to develop his first entrepreneurial venture, an artificial intelligence custom chip that highlighted potential physical threats to military bases outside their fences.

Coming from a single-family household, Sullivan says that Allegheny College helped his family navigate financial barriers while he was a student and credits his advisor, Linda Palmiero, for their support.

I almost had to drop out between my sophomore and junior years because we didn't have enough money to send me back," reflects Sullivan. "Then, Allegheny stepped in and helped my mom get a (federal direct) PLUS loan so I could keep going to school; I wouldn't have finished if not for that."

Sullivan is now the chief executive officer of Kairon Connect, a multimedia company he co-founded to foster emotional intelligence. He aspires to create a digital space that encourages acts of kindness and altruism, in stark contrast to the current social media landscape that some may view as fueling dissent.

Simultaneously, Sullivan champions start-ups in their early stages, such as Korion Health, which seeks to expand access to medical devices at home. In 2025, Sullivan won the University of Pittsburgh's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship James "Chip" Hanlon Volunteer Mentor of the Year.

He gave a presentation on campus this year to students about the career value of emotional intelligence and how it can protect against career risks from artificial intelligence.

Sullivan is eager to support his alma mater, noting, "What Allegheny is really good at is preparing humans to be effective in the world," citing the strengths of liberal arts learning that helped him through his own journey.